We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Rodriguez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
When I started my business, my motto became “Transforming lives one room at a time”. I like this quote because it speaks the truth. When I design, I am not only transforming a room or a house, I am transforming a life. I stand behind the fact that when a room or home is designed well, it makes the person living there feel good. Just like the saying “when you look good, you feel good”, I believe coming home to a beautifully designed home makes you feel amazing!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have loved designing and decorating since I was a little girl. I remember rearranging furniture, painting and changing decor growing up in our house. It has always made me happy to transform spaces and even more happy to see the smiles on people’s faces when they see the transformation. I decided to go back to school in my early 40’s after being in the dental field for almost 20 years. I was lucky to be able to use my husband’s GI Bill and attend the number one school in the nation for Interior Design, New York School of Interior Design. It has been the best decision I have ever made. It has liberated me and I have learned so much about the industry that I have a passion for. With the support of my husband, I decided to launch my own business in Interior Design and Home Staging. It has been a life-changing experience for the better. I get to transform spaces and lives for a living. It took some risks, because it takes time to build your name and portfolio, but I’ve been blessed to have quite a few jobs since my launching date. I’ve learned to never sell myself short. My work speaks for itself and I should not be afraid to charge for my talent. I want the world to know that I am a perfectionist and that any work I do will be nothing short of perfect. The name of my business is Casa Bella which means “beautiful home” in Spanish, and that is exactly what I will provide every single time, a beautiful home. Whether it’s through Interior Design or Home Staging, I will stand behind my brand.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m lucky to live right in the middle of amazing spots in Colorado. About 30 miles south into Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, a national landmark, is a must to admire the beauty of nature whether it be by hiking, car or even horseback ride. Then, you can’t leave Colorado without taking a hike up the Manitou Springs incline which consists of 2,444 steps, takes approximately two hours per person and ascends up to 8,590 ft above sea level!

After, exploring nature, we would get on the light rail and head north to enjoy the city of Denver where we would go enjoy shopping and bar hopping. 16th Street mall is a cool area to walk around and admire the different architectures all in one space blended together. We would definitely hit up the ice skating rink and get a good work out while listening to some cool jams by the DJ. Can’t leave Denver without visiting the Denver Art Museum which is a super cool and unique building that houses many genres of art. Then end the night by having dinner at one of many restaurants with a roof top bar, drink some wine or beer all while admiring the breathtaking view of the Rocky Mountains.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
All of my success and the reason I am who I am, is because of my husband. He is my number one fan, my biggest supporter, he pushes me to my max potential, he encourages me to be the best version of my self and to always exceed in everything, he has taught me so much, and he stands behind me in anything and everything that I do or want to do. He believes in me and my talent and has always been absolutely positive. He’s helped me start and build my career, and he is my partner not just in life but in the business. He does all my marketing and runs my social media and never stops researching ways for me to be better. He absolutely deserves all the credit behind my success!

Website: www.casabellahsd.com

Instagram: instagram.com/casabellahsd

Facebook: facebook.com/casabellahsd

Image Credits
Ray Rodriguez, my husband.

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